Shahed interceptor with auto-guidance

The Zirka interceptor turning slowly against a dark ground, seen from below.

TARGET ACQUIRED — 48.4647°N, 35.0462°E.

SYSTEM RESPONSE: 0.003s

UNIT 07 — ACTIVE — 00:47:23

ALT 412m — STATUS: NOMINAL

productZirka

Max speed

spec: 01max speed

326km/h

001

Flight time

spec: 02flight time

15mins

002

Radius

spec: 03operational radius

28km

003

Altitude

spec: 04operating altitude

6000m

004

Target tracking

spec: 05automatic target tracking

005

THREAT CLASS — SHAHED-TYPE UAS

UNIT COST: ~$50,000

SPEED: 185 KM/H — ALT: LOW

PRIORITY: CRITICAL

LaunchesMiddle EastUkraine

0102/ 02

The Zirka interceptor rotating slowly, its rotor arms and warhead picked out against a dark ground.

InterceptorZirka

A.
Automatic target detection
An algorithm trained on thousands of real-world strikes by Shahed drones is capable of detecting targets at a distance of up to 1 km.
B.
Auto-guidance system
The system’s machine vision increases interception effectiveness against highly maneuverable targets by up to 60%.
C.
Speed advantage
Zirka’s air speed is twice the cruise speed of a Shahed drone (180 km/h).
D.
High vertical speed
A climb rate of up to 40 m/s enables reaching 6,000 meters in just a few minutes.
E.
Additional positioning system
An innovative communication system enables stable drone positioning in the air even in case of radar tracking loss.

A residential block in central Kyiv, its façade torn open across several floors.

Consequences of a Shahed-136 strike

on a residential building

in the city center

Kyiv, Ukraine, 2022.

A production hall lined with delta-winged drone airframes on trolleys, workers among them.

Mass production of modified Iranian Shahed drones

UAV “Geran-2”

Yelabuga, Russia, 2025.

A Shahed airframe in flight carrying two smaller FPV drones slung beneath it.

Shahed carrying two FPV drones

footage from an interceptor UAV

2026.

A thermal power plant after a drone strike, its turbine hall roof collapsed.

Consequences of mass attacks

by Russian drones

on the Darnytsia TPP.

Kyiv, Ukraine, 2026.

A pilot at a field control station flying an interceptor drone at night.

Darknode battalion pilot

operates an interceptor drone.

Spring, 2026.

15 04 202617 35 UTC +3Zirka interceptor

01
First strikes on Ukraine
The use of Iranian UAV, Shahed-136, began with attacks on Ukraine in October 2022. These were massive kamikaze drones with pre-programmed flight paths that targeted civilian infrastructure.
Consequences of a Shahed-136 strike
on a residential building
in the city center
Kyiv, Ukraine, 2022.
02
Geran-2: Russia’s adaptation of Shahed
In recent years, Russia has scaled up mass production for drone upgrades. The warhead can now reach up to 90 kg, the flight range exceeds 1,000 km, and the system can be remotely controlled in real time, functioning similarly to a large FPV drone.
Mass production of modified Iranian Shahed drones
UAV “Geran-2”
Yelabuga, Russia, 2025.
03
From drone to terror platform
Today, Shahed-type UAVs perform both strike and reconnaissance missions, engage dynamic targets, evade interceptors, and form airborne mesh networks. They are deployed in large-scale swarms, overwhelming air defense system.
Shahed carrying two FPV drones
footage from an interceptor UAV
2026.
04
Mass attacks capable of disrupting a country
A single large-scale strike can plunge a European country into blackout overnight. Within a week, it can disable critical infrastructure. Within a month, it can severely destabilize an entire state.
Consequences of mass attacks
by Russian drones
on the Darnytsia TPP.
Kyiv, Ukraine, 2026.
05
Ukrainians are the only ones who can fight back
During the winter of 2025–2026 alone, Russia launched nearly 19,000 Shahed-type strike drones against Ukraine. The country held its ground, primarily due to the operational deployment of interceptor UAV units.
Darknode battalion pilot
operates an interceptor drone.
Spring, 2026.

Successful mission to intercept a shahed

Interceptor Zirka: $5K
MANPAD: $100K
Aviation: $500K
Missile Systems: $1M+

Modern warfare is driven by mass low-cost UAVs that exhaust resources and penetrate defenses. Zirka lets you work faster and more cost-effectively.
According to most military doctrines, two or more munitions are usually required to ensure a guaranteed hit on a single target.

A Shahed-type airframe seen from above, framed by a targeting box.

$50K: Target cost

A Shahed-type drone on its launch rail at night, lit from below.

ProvenIn combat

None of these numbers are ours. They are the conditions that Zirka had to be designed against, every night.

The largest attack recorded to date used the equivalent of under three days of production at that monthly rate.
Zirka was specified against the rate of production, not against the record. The rate is what repeats.

948: Shaheds launched in one day
12K: Shaheds built in one month